Moving to Australia from China

What changes when you move from China to Australia

A few things genuinely change shape on this move, beyond the roughly 10-11 hour flight and the time difference (mainland China is 2-3 hours behind Australia's eastern states, depending on daylight saving):

• Your driving licence doesn't convert the same way everywhere. Licensing in Australia is run by each state and territory, not federally -- whether your Chinese licence is recognised, and whether you need a test, depends on both your destination state and China's own listing with that state's transport authority.
• Moving money out of China has an annual individual quota. The State Administration of Foreign Exchange (SAFE) sets an individual foreign exchange quota of USD 50,000 per calendar year, resetting each January -- amounts above that need prior approval, which isn't a same-day process.
• Tenancy law and several other systems are state-based, not national. Bond handling, tenancy rights, and driver licensing all vary by the state or territory you're moving to, rather than following one national rulebook.
• Buying property before you have permanent residency is restricted. Most temporary visa holders need Foreign Investment Review Board (FIRB) approval before buying residential property, and are generally limited to new dwellings rather than an established home.

This is general planning information, not immigration, tax, or financial advice. Confirm your own eligibility and current requirements with the relevant authority before making a decision you can't easily reverse.

Before you leave China

• Confirm your visa pathway first. Most Chinese nationals move to Australia on a skilled visa (employer-sponsored or points-tested), a student-to-skilled pathway, or a significant investor pathway. Use the Department of Home Affairs' visa finder for your specific situation, since requirements and occupation lists change.
• Get a skills assessment early if your visa requires one. Most skilled visas need your qualifications and experience formally assessed by the relevant occupation's assessing authority before you can even apply. See the Department of Home Affairs: skills assessment and its list of assessing authorities.
• Plan transfers above the SAFE quota well ahead of time. The USD 50,000 individual annual quota resets in January, but a transfer that needs prior approval -- for a larger sum such as property sale proceeds -- isn't something you can arrange at short notice. See SAFE's own guidance.
• Check your visa's health insurance requirement. Many Australian visas require private health insurance (such as OSHC) as a condition, separate from Medicare eligibility.
• Start your pet's biosecurity process months ahead if you're bringing a dog or cat -- import classification and quarantine requirements vary by country of origin, and the whole process commonly takes 6 months or more. See DAFF: bringing cats and dogs to Australia.

Your first days in Australia

1. Get a local SIM and data plan as soon as you land.
2. Apply for your Tax File Number (TFN). You must be in Australia to apply -- the ATO's online application for foreign passport holders is free and takes about 20 minutes, though the TFN itself is posted to you within about 28 days.
3. Open an Australian bank account. CommBank, Westpac, NAB, and ANZ all accept new arrivals, and some let you start the process online before you even land.
4. Check your Medicare eligibility. It isn't automatic for every visa type -- see Services Australia: enrolling in Medicare for who qualifies and how.
5. Sort short-term transport -- ride share and public transport while you work out your longer-term driving and vehicle plans.

Setting up your life in Australia

• Utilities: once you have a fixed address, connect electricity and gas and connect your internet -- compare retailers on Energy Made Easy.
• Insurance: see our home and contents insurance guide once you've secured a place.
• Housing: tenancy law is set by each state and territory -- see our guide to finding a place to rent or buy in Australia for the full process, including bonds, condition reports, and buying as a temporary visa holder.
• Tax residency: your Australian tax obligations depend on your residency status for tax purposes, a separate question from your visa -- see the ATO's tax residency tool.

Choosing where to live

Most Chinese arrivals land in Sydney or Melbourne, both of which have large, well-established communities and strong job markets, though Adelaide and Brisbane also have growing populations and generally more affordable housing. Worth weighing commute and cost of living against job opportunities before committing to a suburb you've only seen online.

What to plan for differently

• Driving: check your destination state's transport authority for whether a Chinese licence is recognised there and for how long before you need a local one. See the Department of Home Affairs' settling-in guide to transport for the general process.
• Money transfers: the SAFE quota means larger transfers (selling property, moving significant savings) need real lead time -- start the approval process well ahead of when you need the funds, especially if it's tied to a specific date like a property settlement.
• Professional recognition: if you work in a regulated profession, check with the relevant Australian body directly -- registration processes and timelines vary significantly by profession.
• Buying property: if you're on a temporary visa and considering buying rather than renting, check FIRB's current rules before making an offer -- see our housing guide's section on buying as a temporary resident.

Your first month

Weeks 1-2: get your TFN application in, open a bank account, check your Medicare eligibility, and connect utilities once you have an address.

Weeks 2-4: start your driver licence conversion process if needed, confirm home/contents insurance once you've signed a lease, and follow up on any pending visa or skills-assessment steps.

By the end of month one: you should have a bank account, a TFN on the way, a handle on your healthcare cover, and a plan (even if not yet completed) for your driver licence.

Build your personalised moving plan

This guide covers what's genuinely different about moving from China specifically -- but your actual moving plan depends on your own move date, destination state, whether you're renting or buying, and dozens of smaller details this general guide can't know. Navaroa can generate a personalised, week-by-week moving plan based on your actual situation -- free, and no signup required to get started.